Removable conduit plug



Sept. 19, W G. CHERNE REMOVABLE CONDUIT PLUG Filed May 27, 1965 III/III INVENTOR. LLOYO 6. CHER/V5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,342,323 REMOVABLE CONDUIT PLUG Lloyd G. Cherne, Hopkins, Minn., assignor to Cherue Industrial, Inc., Hopkins, Minn. Filed May 27, 1965, Ser. No. 459,134 6 Claims. (Cl. 20647) The invention relates to an improvement in a device for temporarily sealing off a conduit and more particularly to a stopper or plug for sealing the end of a soil pipe used in connection with a toilet, the plug being easily removed.

In the erection of a building, for example, the soil pipe for connection with a toilet is installed rather early in the construction, but the installation and connection of the end of the pipe to the toilet is effected towards the end of the period of construction. As a result, the open end of the pipe is exposed for a period of time to debris and foreign objects due to carelessness or in some cases vandalism. Makeshift devices have been used to close off the pipe end such as paper stuffings and the like which have proved inadequate. Also, with an adequate plug the conduit may be given a low pressure test.

It is an object of the invention to provide a unit with which a sealing plug for a conduit may be easily and simply formed in conduits of varying diameters which allows a pressure test of the conduit, which is easily removed from the conduit and which wipes the conduit clean as it is removed.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the packaged unit for making a removable pipe plug, a portion of which is broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the cap portion of the unit removed from the unit and shown in an inverted position for use.

FIGURE 3 is a section through a section of soil pipe and the compressible disc support member being inserted into the open end of the pipe.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the disc support member inserted into the soil pipe into operative position.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the plug formed therein upon the disc support member.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the upper end of a soil pipe with the formed plug therein fractured and ready for removal.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the unit A for forming a pipe plug includes the container body 10 formed of the cylindrical wall 12 having the bottom 14 and an open upper end. The upper end of the body 10 is closed off by the cap 16. The cap 16 includes the cylindrical wall 18 and the circular top portion 20. The inside lower edge of the cap 16 is formed with the annular recess 22 which interfits with the annular recess 24 formed on the outer upper edge of the body 10 whereby the cap is securely mounted on the body portion 10.

Further provided is the compressible disc 26 which is made of a compressible water-resistant material such as polyurethane foam or the like. The diameter of the disc 26 is such that it is slightly larger than the diameter of the largest pipe with which it is to be used but which is easily usable with small diameter pipes due to its com- 3,342,323 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 pressibility. The disc 26 has secured thereto the flexible pull wire 28 which extends free from the upper face of the disc. The wire is secured by forcing the same downwardly through the disc, forming a bight and then forcing the wire up through the disc.

The numeral 30 designates a supply of powdered cement material such as plaster-of-Paris or the like which when mixed with water solidifies. The material 30 is placed in the bottom of the container portion 12, and the volume of the material 30 is sufficient to make a pipe plug when mixed with water for a range of sizes of pipe. The cap 16 has a volume which holds suificient water when filled to produce a proper mixture when added to the measured amount of powdered material 30 for hardening to form the plug 32. The disc 26 is compressed and inserted into the body 10 to a position upon the material 30 with the wire pull member folded upon the disc. The cap 16 is then mounted on the body 10 which makes the unit A complete.

In using the unit A to form a pipe plug, the cap 16 is removed from the body portion 10 inverted and filled completely with water. The compressible disc 26 is removed from the container body portion 10 and forced into the soil pipe 34 from the starting position shown in FIGURE 3 to the operative position of FIGURE 4. In this condition the edge of the disc 26 maintains a tight contact with the wall of the pipe 34 due to the tendency of the disc to expand. The water in the cap 16 is then poured into the body 10 and upon the powdered material therein. The water and powder is mixed by stirring or by replacing the cap 16 on the body 10 and shaking.

The mixture is then poured into the pipe 34 and upon the disc 26 to the level illustrated in FIGURE 5 with the wire 28 extending outwardly of the pipe 34 for easy access and allowed to set thereby forming the plug 32. The disc 26 acts as a base for the water-powder mixture.

The plug prevents foreign objects, dirt and refuse from falling into the open end of the pipe 34. In this condition the pipe 34 may be given a low pressure air test.

When it is desired to remove the plug 32, the same is first fractured by a blow with a sharp instrument as illustrated in FIGURE 6. This loosens the plug 32 and the same is removed by pulling outwardly on the wire 28 thereby causing the disc 26 to pull the plug out of the pipe. As the disc is pulled from the pipe it maintains intimate contact with the inner wall thereof due to the compression of the disc and as a result wipes the pipe clean and brings with it the plug pieces and any other foreign matter along with it.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upper end,

(b) a cap for closing off the upper end of said container,

(c) a circular support compressible member of a predetermined maximum diameter insertable into a conduit for frictional engagement therewith as a support for the formation of a plug thereon,

(d) a supply of powdered material positioned in said container,

(e) said compressible support member positioned within said container body and adjacent said powdered material,

(f) said cap being substantially impervious to water and having a capacity equal to the liquid required for the setting of the powdered material to form a plug in a conduit on top of said support member,

(g) means connected to and extending from said circular support member for removing the circular support member from a conduit on which the powdered material together with the liquid has solidified in the form of a plug.

2. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upper end,

(b) a cap for closing off the upper end of said container,

(c) a circular support member insertable into a conduit for frictional engagement therewith as a support for the formation of a plug thereon,

(d) a supply of powdered material positioned in said container,

(c) said circular support member positioned within said container body and adjacent said powered material,

(f) said cap being substantially impervious to water and having a capacity equal to the liquid required for the setting of the powdered material to form a plug in a conduit on top of said support member,

(g) means connected to and extending from said circular support member for removing the circular sup port member from a conduit on which the powdered material together with the liquid has solidified in the form of a plug.

3. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upped end,

(b) a cap substantially impervious to water and closing off the upper end of the container,

() a supply of powdered material positioned in said container sufficient in amount for mixing with a volume of liquid which fills said cap,

(d) a circular compressible support member designed for frictional engagement with a conduit positioned Within said container and adjacent said powdered material,

(e) means connected to and extendable from said support member for removing the same from a conduit to remove a plug formed thereon of said powdered material mixed with liquid and solidified to form the plug.

4. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upper end,

tainer,

(c) a supply of powdered material positioned in said container for mixing with a liquid therein to form a self-hardening mixture,

(d) a circular compressible support member designed for frictional engagement with a conduit positioned within said container and adjacent the powdered material,

(e) means extending from said circular support for pulling the same from a conduit to remove a plug formed thereon from said powdered material mixed with a liquid and solidified to form the plug.

5. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upper end,

(b) a supply of powdered material positioned in said container for mixing with a liquid therein to form a self-hardening mixture,

(c) a circular compressible support member designed for frictional engagement with a conduit positioned within said container and adjacent the powdered material,

(d) means extending from said circular support for pulling the same from a conduit to remove a plug formed thereon from said powdered material mixed with a liquid and solidified to form the plug.

6. A unit for forming a removable plug in a conduit comprising:

(a) a container open at the upper end,

(b) a cap for closing off the upper end of the container,

(c) a supply of powdered material positioned in said container for mixing with a liquid therein to form a self-hardening mixture,

((1) a circular support member designed for frictional engagement with a conduit positioned within said container and adjacent the powdered material,

(e) means extending from said circular support for pulling the same from a conduit to remove a plug formed thereon from said powdered material mixed with a liquid and solidified to form the plug.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 852,397 4/ 1907 Penney 206-47 1,070,923 8/ 1913 Schulz 206-632 2,979,193 4/1961 Fredette 20647 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner,

B. KILE, Assistant Eqram iner, 

1. A UNIT FOR FORMING A REMOVABLE PLUG IN A CONDUIT COMPRISING: (A) A CONTAINER OPEN AT THE UPPER END, (B) A CAP FOR CLOSING OFF THE UPPER END OF SAID CONTAINER, (C) A CIRCULAR SUPPORT COMPRESSIBLE MEMBER OF A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM DIAMETER INSERTABLE INTO A CONDUIT FOR FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AS A SUPPORT FOR THE FORMATION OF A PLUG THEREON, (D) A SUPPLY OF POWDERED MATERIAL POSITIONED IN SAID CONTAINER, (E) SAID COMPRESSIBLE SUPPORT MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER BODY AND ADJACENT SAID POWDERED MATERIAL, (F) SAID CAP BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERVIOUS TO WATER AND HAVING A CAPACITY EQUAL TO THE LIQUID REQUIRED FOR THE SETTING OF THE POWDERED MATERIAL TO FORM A PLUG IN A CONDUIT ON TOP OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, (G) MEANS CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER FOR REMOVING THE CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER FROM A CONDUIT ON WHICH THE POWDERED MATERIAL TOGETHER WITH THE LIQUID HAS SOLIDIFIED IN THE FORM OF A PLUG. 